Two Volusia County students are facing felony charges after they allegedly threatened to shoot up their high school.
According to Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, a 17-year-old female student at T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High School (100 E Washington Avenue in Pierson) allegedly posted a photo on Snapchat on Wednesday, September 18, which included the message, “Imma shoot up the school.”
The sheriff stated that the female student’s school laptop was visible in the background of the photo.
Shortly after the photo with the threatening message was posted on Snapchat, a 16-year-old male student at the same school allegedly replied with one word: “Same.”
“This was RIGHT AFTER Taylor Middle-High School broadcast a long announcement to the entire student body with our warning that that ALL threats are taken seriously and these ‘jokes’ are not only unacceptable, they can lead to expulsion and arrest,” stated Sheriff Chitwood.
The 17-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy were both arrested and charged with making written/electronic threats to conduct a mass shooting.
In a social media post after the two students were taken into custody, Sheriff Chitwood stated that parents “need to TALK to your kids and help them understand these ‘jokes’ are just about the dumbest way to find yourself locked up with a felony.”
Sheriff Chitwood further stated that the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office is “wasting time and resources on this BS,” since it “disrupts our schools and lives.” He added that, “It’s not fair to the 99% of kids who are doing the right thing.”
Over the past week, several Central Florida students have been arrested for separate incidents involving firearms.
On September 16, an 11-year-old student was arrested after he allegedly threatened to conduct a shooting at two Volusia County middle schools.
A few days earlier, on September 13, two Boone High School students were arrested after a loaded gun was found in one of their backpacks.
On September 12, Sanford police arrested a 15-year-old student who allegedly threatened to commit a school shooting in Seminole County.
On Wednesday, September 11, a high school in Altamonte Springs was placed on lockdown after a student allegedly brought an unloaded firearm on campus.